Methotrexate & Alcohol?

Florence500

Is it a definite no no? :shock:

prefabkid47

Florence500 wrote:

Is it a definite no no? :shock:

Hi Forence500

I'm on 12.5mg methotrexate once a week.I don't drink alcohol the day I take my metho (although I haven't been told not to,but just as a precaution).Otherwise I do drink,but in moderation of course!!

Ron

jillyb1

My rheumy nurse said a little was ok as long as the doc didn't know about it , but my readings were ok at the time ! No longer on metho , so no longer a worry for me . Jillyb

lorica

Im on 17.5mg mxt going to 20mg next week, I was advised just to stay clear of alcohol all together so thats what i do.

Mark

jennylynn

Hi Florence500,

i've been on meth for a while now (10mg), and i do occasionally have the odd tipple, but as long as my folic acid is up to date and i dont drink to excess i havent really had any problems. The only thing it does do is upset my tummy a bit more than alcohol used to (ahem!). I'm not advocating not following your rheumys advice, as when i first started meth alcohol was an absolute no no, i do think they ask that you drink in moderation now instead of abstaining entirely. I think it has to be your choice though ultimately.

Jennyx

dreamdaisy

No, it isn't, but I would urge caution. When you begin, try to abstain for about three months: this will give your liver the best chance to deal with the meth without the extra strain of processing alcohol. It will also give you some base line figures to see how well you are coping with it all. When I first had meth I had fortnightly bloods - you should also have a little purple/mauve booklet in which your results can be recorded.

The thinking on meth and alcohol intake has changed, and they say that if you keep well within the suggested limits all should be well. We all know on here that we all react differently to the meds and in how our body tolerates them: get the base line figures, then gradually re-introduce alcohol if needed. (yeah, right, who am I kidding?!)

I know there are some people on the forum who cannot tolerate even a tiny amount of alcohol and then there's me. I know what I can and cannot do, and drink accordingly. I had a very long time without alcohol when enbrel turned nasty on me and it wasn't fun. I got a triple gold in sulking at the time. Now I am careful but I know my limits. You, as yet, do not. You need to find those out and give this vital organ a breather: it is about to be hit by summat relatively nasty and it needs all the help it can get. The doses of meth involved in fighting arthritis are relatively small but it is a nasty drug nonetheless. DD

Florence500

Thanks everyone, the reply I got from my Dr is "Not really advised" was not sure if that meant NO! or in moderation, I think I will abstain for the first few weeks and see how things go, might be my "Lent" thing although I am not religious.

I start Meth on the 18th March and have to have weekly blood tests for the first few weeks

....So I have 9 drinking days left :shock:

Florence500

ok will turn "few weeks" into "months" to be on the safe side

MissKat

I was told definitely "no", but after 3 months without (trying not to sound too much of an alchy!) over xmas AND new years (!!!), and with the prospect of my big 3 - 0 without a celebratory drink I cracked and begged my Doc to say yes... which she did... "in moderation" is apparently okay Whoop!

I think, as previous posts have said, the first few months on Meth are important, so if you can hold off for a bit... no birthdays in the pipeline?! Then give it a go... it wasn't so bad

Good luck!

lindalegs

I'm on 10mg Mtx tablets a week.

I was told not to drink one day before, on the day or two days after - I choose to take my Mtx on a Tuesday so I can have a drink at the weekend.

My Rhuemy said to carry on as I had been doing and if my bloods showed signs of change that we'd speak again .........that was early 3 years ago and I'm fine.

williamlargs

Its important in the first few months to watch your tippling pretty closely.
I am on 20mg once a week and for the first 8 months was on monthly blood tests. All my figures were fine and my blood tests are now done every 3 months.

As my good friend DD says we are all different and react differently to the various drugs. So far I am one of the lucky ones regards alcohol but I do keep an eye on what I'm doing to a certain extent.

I think the secret is to try to have at least 4-5 days a week without.

dreamdaisy

And just how do you manage that williamlargs? It's nice to see your name, I hope all is well with you (and knowing you as I do, it proabably is!) DD

meanyjarReA

I forgot about the alcohol thing and got absolutely smashed a couple of weekends ago and I am still alive to tell the tale!! Maybe my liver can just cope with it ok! I am taking 20mg a week!

When I started on meth I waited until I saw the rheumy nurse again, and 4 blood tests later everything was working fine so I allowed myself half a bottle of wine a week. But then I have got quite drunk a couple of times. I tend not to do that as much as I have an issue with wasting a day of my life with hangover!

I do like a bit of alcohol every now and then, it must also be good for you to have a bloomin' good laugh every now and then??!!

I am not very good at giving safe advice am I!!??

Florence500

Well this is my last weekend of alcohol, and it starts early!

Had a really rubbish day, up at 5.30am to get train to Glasgow for exam, exam a disaster, was a computer based exam and loads of techy problems caused lots of distruptions and lost me 20mins time, feel sure I have failed, back on train then drive through wind and snow to get home.

Sooo tired went to bed at 5pm, now awake and have the hot sweats.

Having a wee whisky while I still can .... cheers!!

Florence500

p.s. I am not always this miserable

meanyjarReA

Enjoy your whisky while it lasts, sounds like you need one after today!!

Keep an eye on your liver results and talk to your rheumy nurse about it.

I will never cut alcohol completely out of my life and I still enjoy a couple of glasses here and there!!

williamlargs

dreamdaisy wrote:

And just how do you manage that williamlargs? It's nice to see your name, I hope all is well with you (and knowing you as I do, it proabably is!) DD

With great difficulty my good friend I can assure you

Turned 51 years young on Wednesday past so plan to celebrate this weekend in the usual fashion! Several ribenas, a meal out with the immediate family, a gig with the band and football on Sunday. What bliss

I hope you are as well as you can be pal??

Cez

I was so strict about the advise when i first started my mtx and only drank one or two glasses a wine a week for the first few months. I was planning a trip to Thailand travelling for 3 wks and asked the nurse if it would be ok to relax the 'no drinking' rule and without saying 'yes' (i understand she can't) she said that all that would happen is they would review my liver function upon my return and if it was raised they may stop my mtx til it returns to normal and that could be at the detriment of my health. As a 27 yr old on a once in a life time trip i chose to drink freely and avoid drinking on the 24 hours after taking my mtx. On my return my bloods were done and my liver function had improved from before i went!! Crazy.

I'm obviously not advising this on a daily basis, my point is that everybody reacts differently, and your rheumy team will tell u if something needs to be modified!